hopwoo-d



(No Model.) l BSheets-Sheet 1.

l -J.'HOPWO0D.

VBLOGIPBDE. No. 245,829. Patented Aug. 16,1881.

FIG. I

(No Model.) 3 sheetssheet 2.

J. HOPWOOD.

VBLOGIPEDB. No. 245,829. Patented Aug. 16,1881.

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. HOPWOOD.

VBLOGIPEDE.'

No. 245,829.` Patented Aug. 16,1881.

mbwsse s UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN HOPVVOOD, OF HEATON NORRIS, COUNTY OF LANCASTER, ENGLAND.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters atent No. 245,829, `dated August16, 1881.

Application filed May 13, 1881.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JonN Horwooma sub. ject of the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, and residing at Heaton Norris, in the county ofLancaster, England, have :invented certain Improvements in theConstruction of Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to1 the construction of a velocipede orpedomotive machine to carry three persons, and to be driven or propelledby one, two, or all three, as occasion may require.

The construction of the machine will be readily understood on referenceto the three sheets of drawings hereunto annexed, and the followingdescription thereof.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through about the center of' themachine. Fig. 2 is a front view, and Fig. 3 a plan view, of' the same. lFig. 4. is a perspective view with the driver and passengers in theirplaces.

Themachineiscarrieduponfourwheels. The two front wheels, aa., aremounted direct upon the front cranked axle, b b, which supports avertical fork, c c, provided with suitable bear ings, and havingsteering-handles, d (l, either straight or cranked,attached to its upperend in the ordinary manner, so that the fore carriage is steered like anordinary bicycle.

The body e e of the machine is carried upon the two hind wheels, ff, andthe frame g g, which supports the body, is provided with or attached toa curved perch or backbone, l1, z.,

'the front part of which is divided into two branches,tl1e lower one ofwhich is connected to the lower end of the fork c c, so as to work on apivot or turn-plate, and the upper end of theperch or backbone h h issimilarlyconnected with a pivot or spindle working in the upper end ofthe fork c c, as in a bicycle, and thus by having a bearing both at thetop and bottom of the fork great stability is obtained, and at the sametime it will be seen that in steering the front axle,b b, can turn onits vertical axis to any necessary angle, thetop curve of the backbone hh being sufficiently high for the front wheels, a a, to lock under it.On this part of the backbone l1, h is mounted (on a spring, t' il) thesaddle is 7c for the driver, wh o, in order to gain room for mounting,turns the fore earria ge slightly round. The tail end (No model.)

of the backbone is not rigidly connected to the frame g g, but is somounted in a socket, gx, as to be capable of a small fixed amount ofmovement on its horizontal axis', so as to give a slight flexibilitythereto.

The driver works the cranks by means of pedals or stirrups m m, whichare adjustable on connecting-rods n n to suit the length of leg of thedriver, the said connecting-rods being cranked and having their lowerends fitted with suitable bearings working on the cranks ofthe axle b b.The upper ends of the connecting-rods n u work on pins fitted in blockso 0, sliding in vertical slots p p, or upon rods fixed on each side ofthe fork c c, or forming part thereof.

The body of the carriage is provided with seats qq', fortwopassengers,who sit facing each other,one being back to the driver, thecurved parts e e acting as springs, and the upright rods e e workingthrough holes or sockets made in or attached to the frame g g, theback-seat q being so mounted as to be capable of being turned to oneside, so as to allow the passengers to mount and dismount, and fittedwith a. catch or bolt to hold it in position when adjusted. This part ofthe machine is carried on the two hind wheels, ff, and is provided witha cranked axle, s s, fitted with connecting-rods, slides, and pedals,similar to the front axle, the pedals t t being sufficiently broad andso arranged and titled that either one or both passengers can assist indriving the machine.

The cranked axle s s is shown in the drawings as connectedtothedriving-wheel by means ot' two stud-pulleys and an endless chain,asin an ordinary tricycle; but, if preferred,the axle on which thewheels are mounted may be carried across from one side to the other, andthe cranks be made sufficiently wide for two feet to work on each,inwhich case the lower axle, with the stud-pulleys, chain,connecting-rods, and slides, may be dispensed with.

In order to allow every facility for steering and turning the machine,only one wheel is fast on each axle, and is the driving-wheel, it beingpreferable to make the right-hand wheel the driving-wheel on one axle,and the lefthand wheel on the other; or, it' preferred, all the wheelsmay be drivers, an arrangement being applied whereby either the right orthe IOO I K a left hand pair, or both, can be thrown loose on the axlewhen required for turning corners or when otherwise required.

The carriage is tted with brakes, lamps, mud-guards, or otherconveniences, and is so arranged that a portmanteau, box, hamper, orotherluggage can be carried beneath each seat.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination of the front wheels of avelocipede with a perch or backbone having pivot-connections with thefork at both the upper and lower ends of the latter, substantially asset forth.

2. The combination of the two front wheels of a velocipede with a perchor backbone having pivot-connections with the fork at both the upper andlower ends of the latter, the said perch or backbone being curved toallow a loek7 ofthe front wheels for steering.

3. The combination of' the wheels of a velocipede and cranked axle, withconnecting-rods n, slides, and fork and stirrups adjustable on said rodsu, substantially as described.

4. Avelocipede having front and rear axles, the front axle to beoperated by the driver, and the rear axle being provided with cranks andpedals, to be operated by a passenger or passengers, all substantiallyas described.

5. A Velocipede having front and rear cranked axles, aforward saddle forthe driver, and two seats facing each other over the rear axle, forpassengers, all substantially as specied.

In testimony whereof IY have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of 3,5

two subscribing witnesses.

- JOHN HOPWOOD. Witnesses:

GHARLEs DAvrEs, GEoRGE DAVIEs.

